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Fremond E. “Fred” Kunz, Jr.

Fremond E. “Fred” Kunz, Jr., 79, of Lebanon, Illinois, passed away on March 25, 2026, at his home. Fred was born on December 6, 1946, to Fremond Kunz, Sr. and Betty (nee Rieger) Korte. As the oldest of seven children, he grew up learning responsibility early in life, something that would define the man he…

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Marilyn C. Rutherford

Marilyn C. Rutherford, 92, of Freeburg, IL, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Freeburg Care Center. She was born on March 11, 1934, in Germantown, IL, to Alphonse and Catherine (nee Korte) Hemann. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Alphonse and Catherine Hemann; first husband, Merhl Myers; second husband, Duane Rutherford;…

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School board addresses bullying concerns, petition sparks community response in Mascoutah

By Zachary Daum [email protected] MASCOUTAH — Allegations of bullying at Mascoutah High School, brought forward through a student petition and amplified on social media, prompted a lengthy discussion at the Mascoutah Community Unit School District 19 Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, March 24. District administrators defended their response to the situation, while students and…

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Petition on Bullying

Petition for Administrative Action to Address Bullying and Protect Student Well-Being at Mascoutah High School. This petition represents the collective concerns of numerous students at Mascoutah High School who believe that repeated incidents of bullying and cyberbullying within our school community have not been addressed with the seriousness, urgency, and accountability required to protect student…

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Complete letter from Mascoutah Superintendent Dr. David Deets

Dear Mascoutah School Community, It is my belief that our schools are at their best when we work together as a community to support both our students and staff. This week, concerns regarding alleged bullying and our administrative response at Mascoutah High School have gained a lot of attention on social media. I am reaching…

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Complete letter from Mascoutah High School Principal Amy Kelly Johnson

Mascoutah High School administered a CharacterStrong Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) survey on March 5th, 2026 to the student body to better understand student experiences related to school climate, relationships and overall well-being. The results, based on nearly 1000 student responses, provide important insight into the day-to-day experiences of students and reinforce the school’s ongoing commitment to…

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Appreciated Fairview Heights City Employees Recognized

by Randy Pierce [email protected] Nine employees from various City of Fairview Heights departments were recognized with certificates of appreciation during a special luncheon held last month in the municipal complex Recreation Room as part of an event hosted by Mayor Mark Kupsky. Explaining that he had asked the various department directors to identify those under…

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The Old City Cemetery: There Will Be A Sign!

Submitted by Nancy Larson Watch for signs of activity at the Old Mascoutah City Cemetery on the corner of West South Street and Lake Street. A stone marker and a plaque will be erected later this year in memory of early citizens interred there. The marker will also commemorate the 250 anniversary of the founding…

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Leu Civic Center to Close This Saturday After Structural Engineer’s Warning

MASCOUTAH — The Leu Civic Center will close at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7, following the release of a structural engineering report that identified significant safety concerns throughout the 1930s-era building, city officials said this week. This was initially discussed in closed session during the March 2 Mascoutah City Council meeting, before the document was…

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